Category: Road Test

Road Test Review

No comments

SHAPELY ASTRA WEIGHS IN WITH AUSSIE INGENUITY

  By ,

It’s no secret that when it comes to performance and low fuel consumption and emissions in cars, weight is the enemy. So it was with the development of the new Holden Astra hatchback, which is an impressive 140 kg lighter than the previous model, despite the take-up of more kit. Australia took the Astra into its heart when first launched here in 1996. Since then, motorists’ feelings for the small Holden, with its European looks and dynamics have not waned. Designers and engineers were given a clean sheet by Opel… Read more

No comments

TOYOTA LANDCRUISER 70 SERIES

  By ,

Australian Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series buyers want a tough vehicle, whether it’s for farming, mining, exploring, heavy-duty off-road holidays, or getting into the Guinness Book of World Records. Huh, what was that last one? I can vouch for the Guinness Book entry, having driven a LandCruiser Troop Carrier for a huge 2724 kilometres on a single fuel fill in 1992. There’s a certificate on my office wall to prove it. Anyhow, enough about me, let’s talk about the latest version in the Toyota 4WD that first went on sale here… Read more

No comments

KIA SORENTO IS BIG, BOLD AND PRACTICAL

  By ,

It’s a bit of a stretch to call Kia the sleeping giant of the Australian automotive industry but for a company with such close links to its high-flying Korean sibling, Hyundai, it has long been something of an under-performer. That’s all changed in the last two years with back-to-back growth in sales of 20.5 per cent in 2015 and 26.5% in 2016 and Kia has now moved into the top ten of overall motor vehicles sales for the first time. This week’s test vehicle, the Sorento is the larger of… Read more

No comments

RENAULT HOT HATCH UP TO EXPECTATIONS

  By ,

Despite taking a road less well travelled lately by turning its hand to Captur and Koleos sports utility vehicles, plus a selection of light commercial vehicles, Renault has not deserted its traditional allegiance to hot hatches. The French automobile manufacturer has stayed true to the Clio and Megane sporting heritage with the latest examples of both, the latter touching down in Australia late last year. The fourth-generation Megane calls on the Common Module Family, Renault-Nissan Alliance’s modular architecture. Thanks to CMF the new Megane shares some of the new technology… Read more

No comments

SHARPER ‘SUIT’ FOR POPULAR LEXUS SEDAN

  By ,

Of all the Lexus lines, the IS, with 40,000 delivered Down Under, is the model Australia has taken to its heart. Across four generations the IS Line has been known for its trendsetting design and the latest lot to land is no exception. The new models feature exterior and interior styling changes, as well as improvements to the display screen and audio system. The range incorporates the full suite of Lexus Safety System+ technology. The Lexus IS Line is available as the IS 200t with the recently launched 2.0-litre turbocharged… Read more

No comments

RENAULT KOLEOS IS A NEAT AND CAPABLE MID-SIZED SUV

  By ,

Renault Koleos is the larger of two SUVs in the French carmaker’s Australian range, the other being the compact Captur. Koleos has been on sale here since 2008 without causing much of a ripple on the sales charts but with hopes that the recent arrival of the second-generation model and some decent marketing will attract more interest. Truly cosmopolitan, Koleos was designed in France, has a Japanese-built chassis and is constructed in South Korea. Australia becoming the first country, outside of its native France, to sell it. STYLING Koleos is… Read more

No comments

RENAULT MEGANE GT-LINE

  By ,

Renault’s all-new Megane five-door hatchback range is very well priced, starting at just $22,490 for the Megane Life with a manual gearbox. Megane is aimed at buyers considering Asian cars but who would like a healthy dose of French flair. This will be a major selling point of fourth generation Megane. Our test car was a Megane GT-Line with a tag of $32,490, plus on-road costs. It has plenty of sporting flair in its shape but doesn’t have the added power of the $38,490 Megane GT. The GT-Line has an… Read more

No comments

CITROEN PICASSO LETS THE SUNSHINE IN

  By ,

Citroen C4 Picasso isn’t an easy car to categorise. While strictly speaking it’s a five-door hatchback it comes with the option of seven seats so can be seen as a mini people mover but also has many of the qualities which attracts buyers to compact SUV crossovers. Where it does stand alone is in the amount of natural light provided inside the car through the combination of a huge windscreen and panoramic glass roof. The top of the windscreen continues back till it’s almost above the front seats while the… Read more

No comments

ALL-PURPOSE AUDI MOVES TRADITION FORWARD

  By ,

While a tsunami of sports utility vehicles is well on its way to swamping passenger car markets around the world, some marques are offering a middle ground vehicle. Versions of the traditional station wagon with higher ground clearance and all-wheel-drive. Frankly these sensible high-riding wagons are not proving popular because buyers prefer the macho image of a 4WD (even if its does have 2WD and compromised ground clearance…). The latest version of the A4 comes in Avant (station wagon) style, with the top of the heap being the new second-generation… Read more

No comments

INFINITI Q50: AN AFFORDABLE PREMIUM SEDAN

  By ,

They say that imitation is the sincerest format of flattery so when Infiniti launched the first batch of its ‘Q’ cars in early 2014 and named them Q50 (for its mid-sized sedan), Q60 (coupe and convertible) and Q70 (large sedan) it was fairly obvious that the Japanese car maker was setting its sights high by imitating the BMW and Audi numbering format. More realistically Infiniti’s main rival is likely to be its Japanese compatriot Lexus. This week’s review car is the Infiniti Q50 and its chances of becoming a realistic… Read more